Mark Cavendish and Rob Hayles with their Fixie Bikes

Mark Cavendish and Rob Hayles with fixed gear bikes

This photograph of Mark Cavendish and Rob Hayles (from here) taking the piss illustrates perfectly the perception people have of fixed gear riders and the difference between a fixed gear bike and a ‘fixie’.

Firstly, the perception. This is a fairly dated look, like four years ago, jeez.

Secondly, the ‘fixie’. This word really isn’t used by people that are truly into riding fixed anymore, it hasn’t been for a a few years. It’s the same as someone who says “I’ve got an Apple Mac” instead of just “I’ve got a Mac”; you know straight away that they aren’t really into Macs. But the word ‘fixie’ has a second function now too, see above, that is a fixie, see below, that is a fixed gear. Two very different things.

cinelli mash bolt fixed gear bike

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Posted in Fixed, Miscellaneous, Road on 20/06/2012
Tags: , ,
  • Tim Wilkey

    This is a bad photo for sure. The Pinarello paintjob being the worst thing about it.

    • http://www.thefootdown.co.uk The Foot Down

      You love it! :-p

  • nixie

    im glad thats been cleared up!

    • http://www.thefootdown.co.uk The Foot Down

      My pleasure :-p

  • Jojo Scoble

    That modern bike is so frickin’ sexy! I wanna steal it.

    • http://www.thefootdown.co.uk The Foot Down

      You keep your grubby mitts off my bike!

  • http://www.facebook.com/joeallister Joseph Allister

    erm explain the difference again Ty? Pretty sure most ‘fixie/fixed gear’ riders i see are still rocking skinny jeans, skinny boy tees and gum soled shoes these days?

    • http://www.thefootdown.co.uk The Foot Down

      Where are you seeing these? Certainly not in Swansea because not a single fixed rider round here dresses like that and never has.
      Maybe you’re mixing skinny jeans up with slim jeans, very easy to do when you’re a ‘surfie’ wearing baggy jeans, badly shaped t-shirts and big bulky Globe shoes like its still 1990, at least that’s what all surfers look like to me ;-)

      • http://www.facebook.com/joeallister Joseph Allister

        haha touche but in fairness most fixie riders jeans i see verge on skinny over slim. 90′s Globe shoes are back in fashion didn’t you know darling ;)

        • http://www.thefootdown.co.uk The Foot Down

          I know the big shoes are still in fashion with some people, god knows why though :-s

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Chris-Lanaway/100003667103065 Chris Lanaway

    Ty, your bike looks sick but you need to ditch those platform pedals!

    • http://www.thefootdown.co.uk The Foot Down

      Pedals with toe clips and straps are the most uncomfortable, terrible combo in the history of bikes! I’ll never, EVER go back.

  • Marc Nbong

    Reading this, it feels like you’re trying to give a higher station to something that is essentially an average pastime. It is certainly the biggest load of self-righteous toss I’ve read in ages. Fixed, fixie; whatever. Fixed gear cycling is very cliquey, and you’re splitting it even further. This type of opinion is what gives people on the ‘outside’ the impression that people riding fixed gear bikes are wanna be skateboard idiots. All three of these bikes look the same to 99% of people. I never, even do response posts like this, and I ride my fixed gear bicycle everywhere.

    • http://www.thefootdown.co.uk The Foot Down

      Haha, that told me! It’s a hard life on the ‘inside’.